»Not Knowing - Photography and the Unknown«

The Internationale Photoszene Köln invites you to the Congress of Not Knowing!

From October 22 to 25, 2026, the International Photo Scene Cologne will bring together renowned experts and thought leaders from science, art, theory, and practice. Together, they will examine the medium of photography and its attribution as a source of information and mediator of the world from the perspective of not knowing.

What don't we know? And can't the diverse answers to this fundamentally human question bring us much closer to an understanding of the nature of photography and the world in general? Do we only know what we can see and prove (photographically)?

Under the title “Not Knowing - Photography and the Unknown”, the four-day program will bring together a wide range of knowledge formats and ideas. National and international scholars, curators, and artists look beyond the disciplinary boundaries of photography and discuss the limits of experience, visibility, and order with the audience using the medium as a basis.

Since its invention in the 19th century, photography has been constantly reevaluated, both in terms of its credibility and its ability to provide access to reality. Where are the limits of preserved photographic knowledge, and how can these aspects become starting points for new questions?

These considerations take on particular significance in archives and collections, which function as repositories of knowledge and convey ideas of permanence, security, and acquired knowledge. Here, the approach of non-knowledge opens up the possibility of questioning such “storage” from an epistemological perspective and developing new perspectives in and from the collections.

As part of the “Artist Meets Archive” program of the International Photoszene Cologne, the congress complements the discourse on photography as cultural heritage in archives in a far-reaching way. The program is aimed at a general audience interested in photography and art, as well as students and professionals—and anyone who sees non-knowledge as an opportunity.

The congress is taking place in preparation for the next Photoszene Festival in May 2027.

The congress is generously supported by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Kunststiftung NRW, the Sparkassen-Kulturstiftung Rheinland, and the Sparkasse KölnBonn. The Internationale Photoszene Köln is institutionally supported by the City of Cologne. We would like to express our gratitude for this support.

Updates on the program and registration will follow shortly on our website and social media channels.